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Eastern: Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park

Once the basin of a large glacial lake, this area is now characterized by gently rolling sand plains, small wetlands and vernal pools. Colorful butterflies float gracefully through the air in the spring and summer, finding nourishment in the native lupine and wildflowers that cover the ground.

In 1996, The Nature Conservancy and its partners established the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park as a special community-based conservation program—a balance between people, community and habitat. The program's mission is to preserve the land, ensure the survival of native wildlife and natural communities, protect and provide habitat for the federally endangered Karner blue butterfly, create a natural area for education and recreation, and maintain the rural character of the local community.

Karner blue butterfly
Karner blue butterfly
© Doug Morse

Ecological Importance: The preserve and park support more than 120 species of birds and more than 70 species of mammals, reptiles and amphibians.

Threats: Development and land conversion are causing habitat fragmentation and loss. Open areas are becoming reforested due to fire suppression and the decline of agriculture, which reduces available habitat for blue lupine and other plant species that provide nectar to butterflies and food for their larvae.

Partners: The program represents a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, the Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park, Inc., the Town of Wilton, and the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. Additional partners include the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation; NY State Department of Transportation; NY State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation; Saratoga County; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service; and private landowners and citizens.

Conservation Targets:

  • Recovery of the Karner blue butterfly is the principal focus of the project.
  • The state-threatened frosted elfin is also a focus of recovery efforts.
  • The project seeks to protect wetlands and vernal pools, which provide important breeding grounds and habitat for a diversity of reptiles and amphibians.

Conservation Strategy:
The Nature Conservancy, together with local, state and federal agencies, is applying the best conservation science toward restoring and managing the Karner blue butterfly's habitat, using the following strategies.

  • Clearing vegetation and natural and man-made barriers to butterfly distribution.
  • Planting native flora to provide butterflies with sufficient nectar and their larvae with sufficient food. 
  • Identifying critical butterfly habitat using innovative science, and protecting that habitat through fee acquisition and conservation easements.

To find out more, visit the Wilton Wildlife Preserve and Park's website http://www.wiltonpreserve.org/

Learn more about the recent acquisition of 89 acres of prime Karner blue butterfly habitat by clicking here.
Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park
© The Nature Conservancy

Wilton Wildlife Preserve & Park Facts

  • Location: Town of Wilton, Saratoga County, New York.
  • Size: Approximately 1,600 acres; the goal is to protect 3,000 total acres.
  • Plant Species: Pitch pine, little bluestem grass, wild blue lupine
  • Animal Species: Eastern hognose snakes, eastern spadefoot toads, Blanding's turtles, Karner blue butterfly, and frosted elfin.

How to Visit
Ten miles of trails are open to the public for a variety of non-motorized uses. They can be accessed through four trailheads:

  • Camp Saratoga—310 acres, 5 miles of trail: From I-87 Exit 16, head east on Ballard Road. Turn right onto Edie Road. At the first intersection, turn left onto Scout Road. Continue until you see the main grounds; park on the left-hand side of the road.
  • Old Gick Farm—135 acres, 1.75 miles of trail: This trailhead is on Route 50, approximately 3.8 miles north of I-87 Exit 15. There is a sign and parking area on your left as you head north.
  • Neilmann Parcel—140 acres, 1.9 miles of trail: Take Route 50 north from I-87 Exit 15. At approximately 3.5 miles, turn right onto King Road. At the first intersection, turn right on Ruggles Road. There is a parking area approximately 100 yards down the road on the right hand side.
  • Opdahl Farm—35 acres, 1 mile of trail: This trail begins on Ballard Road, approximately 1 mile east of I-87 Exit 16. There is an access drive before the old barn on the right hand side. Parking is in a cleared field.

Lupine
Lupine
© The Nature Conservancy